You may have heard of FOSTA-SESTA, two bills recently passed by Congress that put sex workers’ lives at risk while masquerading as anti-sex trafficking legislation. In reality, the bills do not make an effort to distinguish consensual sex work from sex trafficking. They’re an attack on free speech in a post-net neutrality repeal world, which passed with support from both parties. The bills hold websites liable for any content posted by users. Website owners can now be thrown in a federal prison for ten years if they’re deemed an “interactive computer service” with “the intent to promote or facilitate the prostitution of another person.”
The language is intentionally vague, and sex worker’s personal websites and social media accounts are already being shut down. Additionally, through the recent seizure of sites such as Backpage.com, sex workers are losing their ability to feed themselves and exchange life-saving information such as bad client lists. Rather than “protect” sex workers, the bills are a whorephobic, witch hunt that will leave a body count. PRIDE put together a list of seven things you can do right now to support sex workers in the wake of FOSTA-SESTA.
Part of why FOSTA-SESTA passed is that we live in a conservative, sex-negative, whorephobic, slut-shaming, capitalist society. Another reason was that apparently, no one managed to fact check the laws and point out that they don’t bother to differentiate between consensual sex work and sex trafficking. Another reason is because celebrities who have no little to no idea what they are talking about promoted the bill. No one asked actual sex workers what they thought. FOSTA-SESTA may have already passed, but it’s not too late to begin talking to, and listening to, what sex workers have to say. Social media (while they still have it) such as Twitter, which has been accused of “shadow banning,” or hiding, sex workers post-FOSTA-SESTA is a place to start. The Red Umbrella Project is great resource for engaging in sex worker activism.
In a world of mindless sharing and retweets, it’s unfortunately easy to see why posts such as the Amy Schumer campaign gained speed. One shred of light post-FOSTA-SESTA is that sex workers and allies have stepped up their game to write articles about why FOSTA-SESTA is so harmful, not just for sex workers, but for free speech. While the bill is despicable, a simple Google search will pull up an array of well-reported articles on why the legislation puts lives at risk. Do your research and educate yourself on the harmful facts about FOSTA-SESTA so that you’re better equipped to fight it.
The hard truth is that the people that will be affected most by FOSTA-SESTA may have their online platforms taken away. It’s important more than ever for allies to speak up against the legislation and be vocal about their support of sex workers. However, remember to amplify their voices, and speak in support of them, not over or for them.
Personal websites are being deleted. Engadget reports that Google is deleting adult content from their drive. In repose to reports of Twitter shadow banning users, and in preparation for what’s to come, a sex worker-friendly Twitter, Melbourne-based Switter, now exists. Many sex workers are switching from Gmail to Protonmail, a Melbourne-based encrypted email system. If you’re concerned about your own online security, or simply want to prove there’s power in numbers, join in on the transition to websites based in more SW-friendly countries.
Even if you don’t harbor prejudice towards sex workers, your friends, even the “good guys,” might. Mainstream culture, from our religions to our films, is fraught with negative sex worker stereotypes. It often takes doing sex work, becoming friends with a sex worker, or taking the time to educate yourself and uproot deep-seeded, anti-sex worker stereotypes to become a good ally. So, even if you’re as woke as it gets, talk to your friends about how harmful—and yes, deadly—FOSTA-SESTA is. If they refuse to listen or act like jerks, remind them that FOSTA-SESTA is just the start of attacks on free speech that will take place now that net neutrality is overturned, and that it will affect them one day. (And if that doesn’t work, then stop being friends with them because they’re an asshole!)
Yes, FOSTA-SESTA has already passed, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t make a stink about it and stand up for sex workers and free speech. Along with standing up against the bill on social media and to your friends, call up your local congressperson, and don’t hold back in telling them what you think of the bill, and let them know how it will affect your votes in the future.
If you’re going to share a message of support to a sex worker, consider saying it on a monetary gift via PayPal or Venmo. FOSTA-SESTA takes away sex worker’s ability to find and screen clients and promote their work. Imagine if the internet disappeared for your line of work. Sex workers, especially those with less privilege, may be suffering financially right now. If you have the means, consider helping out a sex worker with a cash donation while they rearrange their business to work in a post-FOSTA-SESTA world.
